tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post4212095910220468349..comments2024-03-27T23:53:59.771-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Non-Vital Statistics: 2017 in ReviewLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-4364926491679284992018-01-02T19:51:55.273-05:002018-01-02T19:51:55.273-05:00Hey Terrie. Thanks a lot! Having fun.
Wishing y...Hey Terrie. Thanks a lot! Having fun.<br /><br />Wishing you a great 2018--keep in touch!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-19542944794586629412018-01-02T19:48:42.741-05:002018-01-02T19:48:42.741-05:00Yay John--that is a great batch of creativity. xo ...Yay John--that is a great batch of creativity. xo TerrieTerrie Farley Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980849018232866773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-68030040729274573612018-01-02T10:36:52.960-05:002018-01-02T10:36:52.960-05:00Thank you, BJ, and sincere congratulations on your...Thank you, BJ, and sincere congratulations on your success, especially during this past year. Six novels (and most of a seventh) in one year!?!?! How in the world do you find the time to work a day job, publish an online magazine, and do the kind of writing you do? Obviously you love all three jobs.<br /><br />Also impressive is the money you're making through your writing. You're an inspiration to all of us.<br /><br />Best to you and family. Have a great year!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-35046492187309376052018-01-02T00:24:46.589-05:002018-01-02T00:24:46.589-05:00John,
Not only am I always impressed by your outp...John,<br /><br />Not only am I always impressed by your output, but also the high quality of your stories. Keep up the good work, old friend. I hope your 2018 numbers surpass 2017.<br /><br />As for me, I haven't written a short story in years, but I managed to write and self-publish six novels this year, with a seventh one nearly complete. That one will be published later this month. The first five were in one series and the last two were in a different series.<br /><br />I've been very blessed this year in my writing life. In this, my first full year of self-publishing, I sold nearly 40,000 eBooks, had nearly 30,000 eBooks downloaded and read through Kindle Unlimited, and I missed earning six figures by a little less that 20K. It's been a wild ride and I still have to punch myself to make sure it's real.<br /><br />Any who, here's to a better 2018 for all of us.<br /><br />bjb<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10079399769215136460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-71872912329438790362017-12-31T20:55:00.985-05:002017-12-31T20:55:00.985-05:00You definitely are, Jeff. Thanks for the update. ...You definitely are, Jeff. Thanks for the update. Keep up the good work!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-5376940900512481582017-12-31T20:46:57.814-05:002017-12-31T20:46:57.814-05:00And I actually published several stories (in marke...And I actually published several stories (in markets) this year, including a couple between printed covers, as well as getting word that I (may) be published in a couple more! And I managed at least one flash fiction story a week via a couple of Facebook picture prompt sites (results on my blog.) the end result is I think I'm getting better at this!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-90117494710408104252017-12-31T20:43:32.532-05:002017-12-31T20:43:32.532-05:00Thanks, Jeff! Happy New Year to you too.Thanks, Jeff! Happy New Year to you too.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-82461747245469500112017-12-31T20:37:10.574-05:002017-12-31T20:37:10.574-05:00Wow! Keep up the good work! And the years are pass...Wow! Keep up the good work! And the years are passing faster, I think it's some kind of time warp; I've noticed it too! :) Happy New Year!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-69501029730415920762017-12-31T15:21:42.425-05:002017-12-31T15:21:42.425-05:00Sounds like a good resolution to me, Chuck.
Thank...Sounds like a good resolution to me, Chuck.<br /><br />Thanks again for the comments!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-76071326862439302022017-12-31T14:38:33.728-05:002017-12-31T14:38:33.728-05:00I'm chiming in here again, to once more congra...I'm chiming in here again, to once more congratulate all the commenters on their productivity.<br /><br />I work at a job that is "more than full-time", as they say ... so what I've had to learn over the years (and it hasn't been easy) is that it is the act of writing and submitting that is most important. <br /><br />Yes, being accepted and published is wonderful, and brings a smile to your face (if not dollars to your bank account). But being accepted is not within your control ... and as most of us have experienced, sometimes you write a really terrific short story but it's not chosen.<br /><br />So all you can do is keep working ... keep submitting ... and keep learning. And one day, you find that your material is being accepted. And at that point, you have arrived ... only to learn that you have more to learn! LOL<br /><br />In any event, some of us don't write as prolifically as others, and that's fine ... and some of us with fewer submissions still get accepted ... and some of us write a lot and get some stories accepted but not others. It's a smorgasbord of results.<br /><br />But the main thing -- and the only thing that you can control -- is to keep writing, keep nourishing the dream, and keep working and improving. I cannot speak for others, but that is MY resolution for 2018 (and beyond).<br /><br />Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy, productive and prosperous New Year!<br /><br />Chuck BrownmanChuck B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10440314005099700273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66203826103233659212017-12-31T00:44:07.476-05:002017-12-31T00:44:07.476-05:00Eve, to the best of my knowledge, unsolicited subm...Eve, to the best of my knowledge, unsolicited submissions to The Strand are still snailmailed to Andrew F. Gulli, P.O. Box 1418, Birmingham, MI 48012-1418.<br /><br />Bill, your publications this year and the ones you have forthcoming sound pretty darn impressive to me. And best of luck to you on your novel-in-progress--sounds interesting!! Happy New Year to you also. Keep in touch!<br /><br />Thanks, Dara, for your kind words, and for stopping in at SleuthSayers! And I congratulate you on your upcoming story in AHMM--I look forward to reading it.<br /><br />Kristin, I wish you continued success as well. Glad to hear about the sale of your novel and your picture book. May 2018 be a great writing year for you.<br /><br />Debra, how kind of you! And thanks for the summary of your recent publications and your works-in-progress. You're a busy lady! Please keep me updated.<br /><br />Anonymous, it's NOT too late. I wish you the very best in 2018--keep at it!<br /><br />Thanks again, all, for the great comments.<br /><br />John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-54403932076381828932017-12-31T00:05:50.113-05:002017-12-31T00:05:50.113-05:00Both the post and the responses are all amazing to...Both the post and the responses are all amazing to me! Congratulations to all of you who have written and sold stories or have just written them. I aspire to write. I’ve taken the courses, gotten the degrees, attended the workshops. But I’ve let too many years go by while I’ve waited for the “perfect” time, place, or inspiration. Then I realized — perhaps too late — that there are no such things. Writers don’t wait. They write. When they fail, they write some more. <br /><br />I wish you all much success in 2018.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-25933413278423115842017-12-30T22:58:55.626-05:002017-12-30T22:58:55.626-05:00John,
Wow! I am very impressed by your output, suc...John,<br />Wow! I am very impressed by your output, success....and the fact that you are such a nice guy. I know I've benefited from your answers to questions and the webinar you did for the Atlanta SinC chapter. As for 2017 output -- 2 stories were rejected a few times, but rewritten and both sold to paying markets, five more were published from where they were first submitted, two have been accepted but won't come out until 2018 and 2019, five are in limbo waiting for a yay or nay. One novel was sold as part of a three book deal with Kensington (book one - One Taste Too Many will probably see daylight early 2019, maybe late 2018), and mass market rights for Should Have Played Poker (published in hardcover in 2016) sold to Harlequin Worldwide Mystery. Best of all, I can now lay claim to being a cover girl (which a middle-aged overweight woman rarely can claim) -- "The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie's Place" was my first submission to Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and it was featured on the May/June 2017 cover; my story "Day After Thanksgiving Soup" made the November cover of Mystery Weekly. Wishing you ... and all the writers reflected in these comments ... the best for 2018.Debra H. Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17533446284471717884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-91740650020071036072017-12-30T20:51:39.539-05:002017-12-30T20:51:39.539-05:00Well done, John. Those numbers are incredible! I s...Well done, John. Those numbers are incredible! I sold my second children's novel, a mystery, to S&S. I'm in rewrites now. I also sold a picture book. I'll be sure to find your short stories. They sound wonderful. Wishing you continued success and all good things in 2018.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13095264668972996587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-24895232336054192752017-12-30T20:40:11.314-05:002017-12-30T20:40:11.314-05:00Hey, John, an e-toast to your 34 stories in 2017! ...Hey, John, an e-toast to your 34 stories in 2017! Congratulations, that's truly impressive. Thanks for sharing about the rejections as well, that surprised me. <br /><br />My grand total of published stories or published anything for the year is zero. Sigh. But 2018 promises to be better. I'm releasing my first novel in a few weeks. And AHMM got in touch to let me know I'll have a story in the March/April issue. <br /><br />Happy writing and New Year!Dara Carrhttp://www.daracarr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-60811620580872707892017-12-30T19:09:15.934-05:002017-12-30T19:09:15.934-05:00John, you're amazing. You've had a more pr...John, you're amazing. You've had a more productive year than my whole career.<br /><br />This year I've published only two stories: the fantasy story "Within the Fires of Rome" in Lovecraftiana and "Matricide and Ice Cream" included in the CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour (Orenda Books) published in the UK in November. In addition to selling those two stories, I've sold in 2017 four more stories that are yet-to-be-published: two stories to EQMM, 1 story to AHMM, and a story to the anthology Malice Domestic 13: Mystery Most Geographical which will be released in April. I also sold a reprint to Trigger Warning which is forthcoming. I presently have four more stories out for consideration. (including 1 to The Strand at your recommendation) <br /><br />And I thought that was a good year until I heard about you my friend. <br /><br />The entire year I have been focused working on a thriller novel called KGB Banker co-written with Russian-mob whistle-blower John Christmas. I hope to have that draft done and out to agents by March. I've also lined up my next project, a true-crime Western with former United States Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. I'll be working on that when KGB Banker is done. <br /><br />Happy New Year All!William Burton McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15502763547533922846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-77619111574123483042017-12-30T18:35:25.173-05:002017-12-30T18:35:25.173-05:00John, and other fellow SleuthSayers, is The Strand...John, and other fellow SleuthSayers, is The Strand still hard-copy submissions only? Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-87017601711370502152017-12-30T15:39:35.755-05:002017-12-30T15:39:35.755-05:00Hey Barb, if you write only one story a year and E...Hey Barb, if you write only one story a year and EQMM buys it, that ain't bad!! Turns out I've read two of the three you had published this year (in <i>Cabernet</i> and <i>Black Cat</i>) and loved 'em both.<br /><br />Keep on keepin' on, my friend. Have a great new year!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40428195055159455112017-12-30T15:34:30.502-05:002017-12-30T15:34:30.502-05:00Dear Lord. Thirty-four stories published in one ye...Dear Lord. Thirty-four stories published in one year. I don't think I've written that many total. And the rest of my stats for this year are as sigh-inducing. I just don't have enough time to write.<br /><br />So my stats: <br />Stories written in 2017: One completed. One unfinished. (Wow. Didn't realize that till right now. Must write more. But at least Ellery Queen bought the story I finished.)<br /><br />Stories published in 2017: Three. One in 50 Shades of Cabernet ("Whose Wine Is It Anyway?") and one in Black Cat Mystery Magazine issue #1 ("Crazy Cat Lady"). And a reprint of "Evil Little Girl" appeared in Killing It Softly 2.<br /><br />Stories out on submission now: Two. Fingers crossed.<br /><br />Stories to be published in 2018: Two so far. The Ellery Queen story should appear in the November/December issue and a story will appear in Chesapeake Crimes: Fur, Feathers, and Felonies in April. I also have an invitation for an anthology that I think will be out by the end of 2018, but I'm not counting this chicken until the story is written and accepted/hatched.<br /><br />Stories already written but needing revision: One.<br /><br />Stories already written and polished but homeless/not out on submission: One. (This is a story that I love, but I haven't found a home for it. YET.)<br /><br />And on that note, I must go edit for someone else, but I have set aside two weeks for writing in January. So excited!<br />Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-4504073495812691152017-12-30T15:31:18.850-05:002017-12-30T15:31:18.850-05:00Good for you, Wendy! Yes, keep me informed. Wish...Good for you, Wendy! Yes, keep me informed. Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2018!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-20195830808966138582017-12-30T15:13:57.840-05:002017-12-30T15:13:57.840-05:00I am hard at work! Will let you know how it all g...I am hard at work! Will let you know how it all goes!Wendy Harmsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-24239507460800975502017-12-30T14:55:41.690-05:002017-12-30T14:55:41.690-05:00Chuck, many thanks for chiming in, here. Sincere ...Chuck, many thanks for chiming in, here. Sincere congratulations to you on the AZ Mystery Writers contest win--well done! Congrats also on the anthology acceptance--I too am in that upcoming Texas antho of Michael's, so looking forward to that.<br /><br />Best to you and yours, for the new year!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-87666857848875258722017-12-30T14:49:02.178-05:002017-12-30T14:49:02.178-05:00I'm amazed and dazzled by everyone's outpu...I'm amazed and dazzled by everyone's output, determination and successes!<br /><br />It's been a mixed year for me, too ... I won the Arizona Mystery Writers short story writing contest (the story is posted on their website, at arizonamysterywriters.com), and I just found out that another story has been accepted into an anthology that is being edited and supervised by our very own Michael Bracken. Woo Hoo!<br /><br />But living in southeast TX, the story of the year here was Hurricane Harvey. We didn't suffer damage personally, but we know plenty of people who did, and many of them are in still in "recovery mode." Our thoughts are with them this Holiday Season.<br /><br />And yes, I'll add my 2 cents of agreement to all the other "39-year-olds" ... the speed at which the year(s) go by is definitely increasing! LOL<br /><br />Chuck Brownman<br />Chuck B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10440314005099700273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-63753740891665720162017-12-30T14:39:37.703-05:002017-12-30T14:39:37.703-05:00Thank you, Su! Glad you mentioned Otto's book...Thank you, Su! Glad you mentioned Otto's book of ghost stories--I have NOT read that, and I intend to. Wishing you the best also, in 2018!<br /><br />RT, you are another who has always impressed me with your track record at AHMM. Congrats on all those series stories, and on this latest acceptance as well. As for WW, keep trying, there--you've already proven you can write those mini-mysteries.<br /><br />And you will love <i>Artemis</i>. For those of you who don't know, Andy Weir is also the author of <i>The Martian</i>, and his knowledge of all things space-related comes through in this new novel as well. A really good read.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-79897028628552154062017-12-30T13:22:45.990-05:002017-12-30T13:22:45.990-05:00John, compared to you, I must have an anchor tied ...John, compared to you, I must have an anchor tied to my tail, or maybe I'm just getting lazy in my older age. You're a writing machine with all that output.<br /><br />Like Herschel, I miss Johnene at WWm. Haven't been able to place anything with the new editor, so my 10 mini-mysteries that got published and my multitude of rejects will end up in an e-book for Kindle and Smashwords (for other e-readers) sometime in early 2018. And now that I've had 10 of my Holiday Burglar series pubbed in AHMM, nine of them will also be in an e-book in early 2018 (9 Holiday Burglar Mysteries).<br /><br />Looks like 2018 will be a good year. Last week, I got an e-mail acceptance from Linda (AHMM) for the 7th in my 1660's Paris Underworld series ("A Loaf of Bread"), so the e-contract will arrive sometime in January 2018. A new contract always starts the year out right.<br /><br />Since you mentioned Andy Weir, I recently read an excerpt of his sci-fi novel Artemis and will buy it as soon as some of my reading pile decreases. I've got to find out how the protagonist handles the situation she agreed to. If the rest of the book is as good as the excerpt, then I've found another good author to read.<br /><br />Best wishes to all, and keep on writing. I always need something good to read.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.com